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Population in Sri Lanka compared to Thailand: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Sri Lanka was 21,756,000 in 2025 vs 71,619,863 people in Thailand in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Sri Lanka's population is 21,926,160 people compared to 71,565,981 in Thailand.

Population statistics:

  • Thailand's population is 3.26 times bigger than Sri Lanka's.
  • Sri Lanka is ranked the 63rd most populous country in the world, while Thailand is the 21st.
  • The countries together account for 1.13% of the world: 0.26% for Sri Lanka vs 0.86% for Thailand.
  • For the last 10 years, Sri Lanka has had an average growth rate of +0.42% per year vs +0.18% in Thailand.
  • Since 2006, the population of Sri Lanka has increased from 20.4M people to 21.9M (7.73% growth), while Thailand has grown from 66.6M to 71.6M (7.51% growth).

Sri Lanka vs Thailand: population by year and forecast

Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
Thailand
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Sri Lanka Thailand
2100 20,009,380 45,708,431
2099 20,121,095 46,053,146
2098 20,234,513 46,403,189
2097 20,345,619 46,757,918
2096 20,456,607 47,118,652
2095 20,566,246 47,484,043
2094 20,674,019 47,853,561
2093 20,780,946 48,226,682
2092 20,886,274 48,605,235
2091 20,990,047 48,984,504
2090 21,095,968 49,368,049
2089 21,198,788 49,756,629
2088 21,299,229 50,142,276
2087 21,398,269 50,532,164
2086 21,496,892 50,925,294
2085 21,594,661 51,321,960
2084 21,687,323 51,724,454
2083 21,778,597 52,127,592
2082 21,866,395 52,533,368
2081 21,954,337 52,938,345
2080 22,038,953 53,347,733
2079 22,122,744 53,762,492
2078 22,200,069 54,177,529
2077 22,274,355 54,595,112
2076 22,345,857 55,015,291
2075 22,414,609 55,438,108
2074 22,485,066 55,867,914
2073 22,550,427 56,300,358
2072 22,610,645 56,735,274
2071 22,669,042 57,172,515
2070 22,725,948 57,616,731
2069 22,779,050 58,061,962
2068 22,831,596 58,512,248
2067 22,885,941 58,962,990
2066 22,935,123 59,413,893
2065 22,985,942 59,873,261
2064 23,030,844 60,331,851
2063 23,071,114 60,792,306
2062 23,107,970 61,257,068
2061 23,139,924 61,720,030
2060 23,171,649 62,187,380
2059 23,199,387 62,651,158
2058 23,224,997 63,113,332
2057 23,247,211 63,572,746
2056 23,267,292 64,027,520
2055 23,278,653 64,473,146
2054 23,287,520 64,912,210
2053 23,297,347 65,338,122
2052 23,301,287 65,758,061
2051 23,302,108 66,162,612
2050 23,299,282 66,552,915
2049 23,293,630 66,931,487
2048 23,283,465 67,291,479
2047 23,267,251 67,636,461
2046 23,244,081 67,967,131
2045 23,212,221 68,281,902
2044 23,181,041 68,579,656
2043 23,144,217 68,864,788
2042 23,103,489 69,133,982
2041 23,056,478 69,390,832
2040 23,005,928 69,626,857
2039 22,948,866 69,848,522
2038 22,888,821 70,056,903
2037 22,822,943 70,250,371
2036 22,756,462 70,429,677
2035 22,685,766 70,599,021
2034 22,611,514 70,751,094
2033 22,532,374 70,891,510
2032 22,449,310 71,019,665
2031 22,364,063 71,134,882
2030 22,273,377 71,241,584
2029 22,181,300 71,337,147
2028 22,082,826 71,423,119
2027 21,979,196 71,499,411
2026 21,870,145 71,565,981
2025 21,756,000 71,619,863
2024 21,916,000 71,668,011
2023 22,037,000 71,702,435
2022 22,181,000 71,735,329
2021 22,156,000 71,727,332
2020 21,919,000 71,641,484
2019 21,803,000 71,522,271
2018 21,670,000 71,376,079
2017 21,453,000 71,160,187
2016 21,209,000 70,859,841
2015 20,970,000 70,540,795
2014 20,778,000 70,216,367
2013 20,585,000 69,845,114
2012 21,169,458 69,436,098
2011 21,009,048 69,007,208
2010 20,879,089 68,579,447
2009 20,756,435 68,121,080
2008 20,629,378 67,619,830
2007 20,492,545 67,102,394
2006 20,352,411 66,567,687
2005 20,216,524 66,017,420
2004 20,087,605 65,452,047
2003 19,951,521 64,868,166
2002 19,805,752 64,266,437
2001 19,600,362 63,651,141
2000 19,293,054 63,007,815
1999 18,944,731 62,299,043
1998 18,596,003 61,522,630
1997 18,248,200 60,724,584
1996 17,905,018 59,920,064
1995 17,564,068 59,098,232
1994 17,275,773 58,260,854
1993 17,025,918 57,408,198
1992 16,739,284 56,528,834
1991 16,475,354 55,637,434
1990 16,352,458 54,738,329
1989 16,248,557 53,848,956
1988 16,078,621 52,969,595
1987 15,916,576 52,074,105
1986 15,731,256 51,177,834
1985 15,544,154 50,270,753
1984 15,441,860 49,351,708
1983 15,388,794 48,423,309
1982 15,286,567 47,494,577
1981 15,099,414 46,575,855
1980 14,847,974 45,650,022
1979 14,579,614 44,718,434
1978 14,310,128 43,788,976
1977 14,049,371 42,843,974
1976 13,796,770 41,896,504
1975 13,548,984 40,940,005
1974 13,305,693 39,952,891
1973 13,060,916 38,947,787
1972 12,809,205 37,933,929
1971 12,551,910 36,937,387
1970 12,287,110 35,954,408
1969 12,013,858 34,973,782
1968 11,736,088 34,002,560
1967 11,457,328 33,037,801
1966 11,183,928 32,086,071
1965 10,916,965 31,149,337
1964 10,653,397 30,232,141
1963 10,395,040 29,342,322
1962 10,143,754 28,481,040
1961 9,899,372 27,650,334
1960 9,661,389 26,851,747

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/sri-lanka/thailand | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Sri Lanka increased by 856,589 people (a 4.21% growth), while Thailand gained 4,292,154 people (a 6.45% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Sri Lanka gained 717,160 people (a 3.38% growth), while Thailand's population increased by 706,140 people (a 1% growth).

Sri Lanka was ranked 55th most populous country in 2006 and is 63rd in 2026. Thailand was ranked 19th in 2006 and ranked 21st now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Sri Lanka's population will grow by 6.26% to 23,299,282 people with a rank change from 63rd to 71st. The population of Thailand will decrease by 7% to 66,552,915 people and rank change from 21st to 31st.

Sri Lanka is projected to reach its peak in 2051 at 23.3M people, while Thailand's population already peaked in 2022 at 71.7M people and is projected to decrease to 45.7M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
Thailand
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Sri Lanka Thailand
2100 -0.56% -0.75%
2099 -0.56% -0.75%
2098 -0.55% -0.76%
2097 -0.54% -0.77%
2096 -0.53% -0.77%
2095 -0.52% -0.77%
2094 -0.51% -0.77%
2093 -0.5% -0.78%
2092 -0.49% -0.77%
2091 -0.5% -0.78%
2090 -0.49% -0.78%
2089 -0.47% -0.77%
2088 -0.46% -0.77%
2087 -0.46% -0.77%
2086 -0.45% -0.77%
2085 -0.43% -0.78%
2084 -0.42% -0.77%
2083 -0.4% -0.77%
2082 -0.4% -0.76%
2081 -0.38% -0.77%
2080 -0.38% -0.77%
2079 -0.35% -0.77%
2078 -0.33% -0.76%
2077 -0.32% -0.76%
2076 -0.31% -0.76%
2075 -0.31% -0.77%
2074 -0.29% -0.77%
2073 -0.27% -0.77%
2072 -0.26% -0.76%
2071 -0.25% -0.77%
2070 -0.23% -0.77%
2069 -0.23% -0.77%
2068 -0.24% -0.76%
2067 -0.21% -0.76%
2066 -0.22% -0.77%
2065 -0.19% -0.76%
2064 -0.17% -0.76%
2063 -0.16% -0.76%
2062 -0.14% -0.75%
2061 -0.14% -0.75%
2060 -0.12% -0.74%
2059 -0.11% -0.73%
2058 -0.1% -0.72%
2057 -0.09% -0.71%
2056 -0.05% -0.69%
2055 -0.04% -0.68%
2054 -0.04% -0.65%
2053 -0.02% -0.64%
2052 -0.004% -0.61%
2051 0.01% -0.59%
2050 0.02% -0.57%
2049 0.04% -0.53%
2048 0.07% -0.51%
2047 0.1% -0.49%
2046 0.14% -0.46%
2045 0.13% -0.43%
2044 0.16% -0.41%
2043 0.18% -0.39%
2042 0.2% -0.37%
2041 0.22% -0.34%
2040 0.25% -0.32%
2039 0.26% -0.3%
2038 0.29% -0.28%
2037 0.29% -0.25%
2036 0.31% -0.24%
2035 0.33% -0.21%
2034 0.35% -0.2%
2033 0.37% -0.18%
2032 0.38% -0.16%
2031 0.41% -0.15%
2030 0.42% -0.13%
2029 0.45% -0.12%
2028 0.47% -0.11%
2027 0.5% -0.09%
2026 0.52% -0.08%
2025 -0.73% -0.07%
2024 -0.55% -0.05%
2023 -0.65% -0.05%
2022 0.11% 0.01%
2021 1.08% 0.12%
2020 0.53% 0.17%
2019 0.61% 0.2%
2018 1.01% 0.3%
2017 1.15% 0.42%
2016 1.14% 0.45%
2015 0.92% 0.46%
2014 0.94% 0.53%
2013 -2.76% 0.59%
2012 0.76% 0.62%
2011 0.62% 0.62%
2010 0.59% 0.67%
2009 0.62% 0.74%
2008 0.67% 0.77%
2007 0.69% 0.8%
2006 0.67% 0.83%
2005 0.64% 0.86%
2004 0.68% 0.9%
2003 0.74% 0.94%
2002 1.05% 0.97%
2001 1.59% 1.02%
2000 1.84% 1.14%
1999 1.88% 1.26%
1998 1.91% 1.31%
1997 1.92% 1.34%
1996 1.94% 1.39%
1995 1.67% 1.44%
1994 1.47% 1.49%
1993 1.71% 1.56%
1992 1.6% 1.6%
1991 0.75% 1.64%
1990 0.64% 1.65%
1989 1.06% 1.66%
1988 1.02% 1.72%
1987 1.18% 1.75%
1986 1.2% 1.8%
1985 0.66% 1.86%
1984 0.34% 1.92%
1983 0.67% 1.96%
1982 1.24% 1.97%
1981 1.69% 2.03%
1980 1.84% 2.08%
1979 1.88% 2.12%
1978 1.86% 2.21%
1977 1.83% 2.26%
1976 1.83% 2.34%
1975 1.83% 2.47%
1974 1.87% 2.58%
1973 1.97% 2.67%
1972 2.05% 2.7%
1971 2.16% 2.73%
1970 2.27% 2.8%
1969 2.37% 2.86%
1968 2.43% 2.92%
1967 2.44% 2.97%
1966 2.45% 3.01%
1965 2.47% 3.03%
1964 2.49% 3.03%
1963 2.48% 3.02%
1962 2.47% 3%
1961 2.46% 2.97%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/sri-lanka/thailand | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Sri Lanka declined by 0.73%, while Thailand's population declined by 0.07%.

Live population counters

Sri Lanka Thailand
Current population
21926160
71565981
Population rank 63/197 21/197
Percent of world population 0.26% 0.86%
One net population change
3.29 minutes
10.9 minutes
One birth every
2.37 minutes
54.2 seconds
One death every
3.07 minutes
48.7 seconds
Daily growth/decline -438 -132
Annual growth/decline -160,000 -48,148
Annual growth/decline rate -0.73% -0.07%
Population growth rate rank 190/197 164/197
One migration net change every
17.2 minutes
19.2 minutes
Annual migration change -30,724 +27,509
Net migration rank 165/196 30/196
Foreign-born residents 40,698 3,179,399
Foreign-born residents rank 156/195 21/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 4.4%
Foreign-born share rank 190/195 100/195

Natural population change vs migration

Sri Lanka
Natural

Migration
Thailand
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Sri Lanka Thailand
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -30,724 - 27,509
2024 50,407 -27,245 -65,720 23,321
2023 66,111 -28,011 -46,105 19,648
2022 95,378 -27,435 -61,046 21,683
2021 121,858 -29,586 57,382 -2,093
2020 170,968 -29,875 84,107 32,277
2019 172,243 -28,426 116,867 5,221
2018 183,610 -28,607 159,383 10,984
2017 187,993 -22,324 194,695 66,805
2016 194,232 -18,388 226,255 112,978
2015 201,815 -29,797 266,362 32,500
2014 211,541 -33,672 294,628 55,358
2013 221,021 -37,754 325,059 67,452
2012 229,138 -41,955 351,485 74,033
2011 224,461 -90,839 365,670 66,607
2010 224,325 -98,060 370,466 52,791
2009 200,175 -81,130 382,636 110,883
2008 232,225 -97,144 401,730 107,333
2007 248,287 -109,695 425,362 100,486
2006 248,706 -107,045 441,211 102,362
2005 248,683 -118,594 456,378 100,542
2004 212,527 -84,795 466,542 107,199
2003 252,008 -107,573 488,003 105,917
2002 252,840 -105,718 504,299 105,215
2001 244,377 19,273 524,230 96,817
2000 227,060 123,894 543,884 121,640
1999 206,876 138,799 578,073 173,924
1998 201,059 150,724 617,318 183,471
1997 208,193 135,636 644,834 150,411
1996 215,290 127,236 661,397 152,397
1995 221,957 117,416 682,703 147,226
1994 228,904 8,323 712,589 132,271
1993 226,257 36,232 737,696 122,746
1992 222,230 88,542 754,999 143,318
1991 218,117 -1,047 760,508 124,034
1990 224,454 -195,736 760,808 152,916
1989 212,401 -33,305 774,563 90,497
1988 219,184 -58,415 765,252 128,469
1987 226,414 -63,105 774,498 122,791
1986 233,782 -26,460 783,430 111,820
1985 247,836 -80,950 776,935 141,963
1984 263,175 -225,450 779,856 139,345
1983 277,768 -209,362 794,239 143,393
1982 300,030 -163,987 817,951 101,885
1981 328,096 -89,824 839,297 78,337
1980 328,155 -63,541 845,575 88,478
1979 329,791 -57,683 843,434 85,693
1978 317,055 -50,189 847,799 82,011
1977 300,038 -45,383 871,232 88,937
1976 291,816 -41,258 894,072 40,656
1975 282,496 -37,475 911,980 66,306
1974 275,521 -33,979 923,151 72,801
1973 278,577 -30,582 933,540 80,704
1972 282,494 -27,071 940,420 73,082
1971 281,200 -22,021 936,215 43,400
1970 286,719 -16,299 937,116 49,221
1969 286,218 -10,152 948,314 26,551
1968 286,642 -7,163 953,806 13,718
1967 284,738 -6,696 944,980 17,005
1966 275,549 -6,794 929,469 12,016
1965 272,422 -7,249 909,000 22,995
1964 269,584 -7,614 885,137 17,249
1963 262,880 -8,118 860,728 16,494
1962 256,719 -8,909 828,741 16,605
1961 251,087 -10,144 801,140 14,968
1960 247,631 -12,610 774,190 6,886

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/sri-lanka/thailand | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 84.3% of the population change in Sri Lanka is from natural causes (a gain of 1,444,615 people) and 15.7% is from migration (a loss of 269,694 people). In Thailand 74.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 932,180 people) and 25.8% is from migration (a gain of 323,324 people).

As of 2024, 40,698 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Sri Lanka, compared to 3,179,399 people or 4.4% in Thailand.

Biggest cities by population

Sri Lanka
City Population
Colombo 648K
Gampaha 191K
Beruwala 165K
Negombo 142K
Kandy 120K
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte 116K
Trincomalee 99.1K
Galle 93.1K
Matara 68.2K
Anuradhapura 63.2K
Thailand
City Population
Bangkok 5.68M
Chiang Mai 1.2M
Nonthaburi 256K
Pak Kret 190K
Hat Yai 159K
Nakhon Ratchasima 134K
Chaophraya Surasak 133K
Surat Thani 131K
Udon Thani 130K
Klaeng 130K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/sri-lanka/thailand | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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